As an overview: I'll finish my undergraduate degree in the US in April 2020 (yes I'm planning ahead). I'll graduate with a 2:1...studying English literature, French, and Western European studies. I'm not sure if it matters, but my (US) high school marks were all 3.7-3.9 GPA (1st), I took AP classes and so on.

I'd prefer a million times over to work in a regional firm rather than City (West Midlands), so no MC/SC firms. My goal is Irwin Mitchell and similar. My options right now are:
-University of Sheffield, MA Law
-University of Bristol, MA Law
-University of Gloucestershire, LLB or MA Creative & Critical Writing

Obviously the first two are RG unis. Bristol is ranked highest, and I love Sheffield's environment, though it's a bit too far north for my optimal location. Gloucestershire is my absolute favourite location, campus, and my fiancé/family live in the area, but it's ranked much lower.

So essentially I'm torn on uni and course to take. Because I'll already have a degree, I'm not sure if I want to do English or law (probably law).

(Original post by Lxs152)
As an overview: I'll finish my undergraduate degree in the US in April 2020 (yes I'm planning ahead). I'll graduate with a 2:1...studying English literature, French, and Western European studies. I'm not sure if it matters, but my (US) high school marks were all 3.7-3.9 GPA (1st), I took AP classes and so on.

I'd prefer a million times over to work in a regional firm rather than City (West Midlands), so no MC/SC firms. My goal is Irwin Mitchell and similar. My options right now are:
-University of Sheffield, MA Law
-University of Bristol, MA Law
-University of Gloucestershire, LLB or MA Creative & Critical Writing

Obviously the first two are RG unis. Bristol is ranked highest, and I love Sheffield's environment, though it's a bit too far north for my optimal location. Gloucestershire is my absolute favourite location, campus, and my fiancé/family live in the area, but it's ranked much lower.

So essentially I'm torn on uni and course to take. Because I'll already have a degree, I'm not sure if I want to do English or law (probably law).

No (at this point), but I've been assured this will be no issue. Since I'll be converting from a student to work visa, employers don't need to prove a UK/EU citizen would be "more suited" for a role. It would be different if I were to apply from no visa status. Also, I'll be getting married within the time period, so I would legally have the right then.

(Original post by Lxs152)
No (at this point), but I've been assured this will be no issue. Since I'll be converting from a student to work visa, employers don't need to prove a UK/EU citizen would be "more suited" for a role. It would be different if I were to apply from no visa status. Also, I'll be getting married within the time period, so I would legally have the right then.

Not quite right.

Firms will still have to meet the basic requirements for the tier 2 visa, and many of the regional firms won’t meet the required salary benchmark.

Bristol's fairly close to where your family is (if my geography is up to date), and it will keep your options open for both regional law firms and the City. Sheffield and Gloucestershire won't have quite the same access.

Firms will still have to meet the basic requirements for the tier 2 visa, and many of the regional firms won’t meet the required salary benchmark.

The regional firms I'm interested in do meet the salary requirements and have sponsor capabilities.

(Original post by JohanGRK)
The right to work in the UK is the most important.

Bristol's fairly close to where your family is (if my geography is up to date), and it will keep your options open for both regional law firms and the City. Sheffield and Gloucestershire won't have quite the same access.

Thank you, this is true. I suppose I can make short trips.

As for the right to work, as I said above, the firms I'm interested in have listed on their sites they encourage applications from non-EEA applicants, so I suspect this will be fine. If not, I will likely be married by that point, so I will therefore have the right to work. Also some places have told me brexit will be shifting things.

(Original post by Lxs152)
Thank you, this is true. I suppose I can make short trips.

As for the right to work, as I said above, the firms I'm interested in have listed on their sites they encourage applications from non-EEA applicants, so I suspect this will be fine. If not, I will likely be married by that point, so I will therefore have the right to work. Also some places have told me brexit will be shifting things.

(Original post by J-SP)
Didn’t realise IM was paying £36k in the regions

I don't need to make £36k as a starting salary. Required salary is either £30k or SOC salary whichever is highest (in this case, £30k is, since general on the govt site is around £24k). Of course I'll apply to city firms, I'm not going to be ridiculous. I would simply prefer to work in a regional firm.

Do you have any response to my original question, beyond your concern for right to work?

(Original post by Lxs152)
I don't need to make £36k as a starting salary. Required salary is either £30k or SOC salary whichever is highest (in this case, £30k is, since general on the govt site is around £24k). Of course I'll apply to city firms, I'm not going to be ridiculous. I would simply prefer to work in a regional firm.

Do you have any response to my original question, beyond your concern for right to work?

There are salary bands for different professions. The one for law is £36k.

The right to work is a moot point if you are getting married anyway.

No - go with what works best for you. By the time you start any course, you won’t need a QLD if you want to be a solicitor anyway thanks to the SQE.

Do you have any response to my original question, beyond your concern for right to work?

I'll merge your two questions from the other thread with this.

(Original post by Lxs152)
Thank you! That's more information I've been able to find. So you would say definitely Bristol over Gloucestershire (though it's my preferred location and would be about £3k cheaper).

Next question is, the MA Law isn't a true MA, so would it be equally beneficial for me to do an MA creative + Critical writing (at Glos, since it's higher ranked for this than law, but there may be one at Bristol). I'll already have an undergraduate degree in Literature / French / West European Studies from an accredited US uni, so would it matter if I get a grad degree in law or English?

(Original post by Lxs152)
Side note, there's also a course at Glos for MRes for English or for "Accounting and Law".

J-SP and John might have an opinion. I have pretty much said everything I think: you don't have to study MA Law (Grad LLB will do) and Gloucestershire is too much of a step down from Bristol. It might be £3k cheaper (also do factor in accommodation and living costs being higher in Bristol), but that does not justify studying at a random no-name uni. I am curious where you study in the US (as if that is impressive enough, you needn't worry about the quality of the course you top up with). We won't be able to guess your ID simply off your college.

I have no opinion on the accounting course. I am not sure what an MRes in English would achieve, unless you're looking to go into academia. It is a time-consuming undertaking which does not have the academic rigour, given it's Glos, to impress anyone more than your US BA alone could. You might find it interesting or have an idea of going into academia, and then I would suggest you take it. But probably at a more reputable university/a university where their research interest matches your own.

To be honest, planning is great and all that, but it's a bit too early to make life decisions. In your ultimate year, I would look at the various master's courses on offer and try to research them in depth.

(Original post by Notoriety)
J-SP and John might have an opinion. I have pretty much said everything I think: you don't have to study MA Law (Grad LLB will do) and Gloucestershire is too much of a step down from Bristol. It might be £3k cheaper (also do factor in accommodation and living costs being higher in Bristol), but that does not justify studying at a random no-name uni. I am curious where you study in the US (as if that is impressive enough, you needn't worry about the quality of the course you top up with). We won't be able to guess your ID simply off your college.

I have no opinion on the accounting course. I am not sure what an MRes in English would achieve, unless you're looking to go into academia. It is a time-consuming undertaking which does not have the academic rigour, given it's Glos, to impress anyone more than your US BA alone could. You might find it interesting or have an idea of going into academia, and then I would suggest you take it. But probably at a more reputable university/a university where their research interest matches your own.

To be honest, planning is great and all that, but it's a bit too early to make life decisions. In your ultimate year, I would look at the various master's courses on offer and try to research them in depth.

Unfortunately I have to plan ahead this early. I will also be applying to a US law school, one of the top, and will have to take the LSAT in this upcoming year (meaning I'm studying now). Also, my father's military status allows me to pay for uni with that, so I have to organise it in advance.

Thank you all for your opinions; they've helped a lot. I could also get into some "top" London schools, and may meet the gpa requirements for Oxford & Cambridge (unlikely I'd be accepted though). Also living costs can be extortionate.

Not getting involved, but are the MA's GDLs in disguise? If not then what would be the point and why not take that? Think MA is the wrong qualification.

Notwithstanding SQE, then I wouldnt rule out Sheffield for GDL or whatever it is you will take as besides the major IR offices in Sheffield, Leeds and Manchester are close by plus the other regionals. Sheffield has a good rep for being recruited from by these and the overall student retention levels for the area is high. Not sure Bristol would give that much of an advantage.

(Original post by 999tigger)
Not getting involved, but are the MA's GDLs in disguise? If not then what would be the point and why not take that? Think MA is the wrong qualification.

Notwithstanding SQE, then I wouldnt rule out Sheffield for GDL or whatever it is you will take as besides the major IR offices in Sheffield, Leeds and Manchester are close by plus the other regionals. Sheffield has a good rep for being recruited from by these and the overall student retention levels for the area is high. Not sure Bristol would give that much of an advantage.

Thank you for your thoughts. I'm fairly torn between Bristol and Sheffield now. I'd prefer to work in Bristol though there may be more job opportunities in Manchester (unsure). If I'm married prior to qualification, I won't need the £30k salary, but I will otherwise...so I'm also not sure if Sheffield and Manchester offer this like London. Bristol is higher ranked and has the uni law club which is one of the top in the country (they do recruitment things with top firms). I'm just very split.

As for the purpose of me taking the MA, because I want more in depth knowledge about English law. Bristol also offers an LLM elective in second year. Sadly, the SQE really confuses everything (GDL/LPC are being completely eradicated). Also, if I were to apply for a training contract, I'd have to do it quite soon; in US unis, many of our activities, internships, etc are in our penultimate & final year. I could go on for ages about it all.

(Original post by Lxs152)
Thank you for your thoughts. I'm fairly torn between Bristol and Sheffield now. I'd prefer to work in Bristol though there may be more job opportunities in Manchester (unsure). If I'm married prior to qualification, I won't need the £30k salary, but I will otherwise...so I'm also not sure if Sheffield and Manchester offer this like London. Bristol is higher ranked and has the uni law club which is one of the top in the country (they do recruitment things with top firms). I'm just very split.

As for the purpose of me taking the MA, because I want more in depth knowledge about English law. Bristol also offers an LLM elective in second year. Sadly, the SQE really confuses everything (GDL/LPC are being completely eradicated). Also, if I were to apply for a training contract, I'd have to do it quite soon; in US unis, many of our activities, internships, etc are in our penultimate & final year. I could go on for ages about it all.

Go to Bristol
. Didnt mean to confuse the issue. Just pointing out if regionals were your aim, then the gap isnt the same. I would agree with Notoriety and question doing an LLM plus you need to see the full details of the SQE.